Written Answers Thursday 8 May 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Tricia Marwick (Central Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that licensing boards are doing enough to tackle the inappropriate advertising of alcohol at off-licence premises.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is clear that alcohol is not simply another commodity, and it must be promoted and priced accordingly. Licensing boards have an important role in controlling the supply of alcohol, and we will continue to work closely with them.

  We will be issuing a discussion paper on our strategic approach to changing Scotland’s relationship with alcohol before the summer. As part of the consultation process, we would very much welcome views on further measures to crack down on irresponsible promotion of alcohol at the point of sale.

Ambulance Service

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place regarding the integration of fire and ambulance services in rural communities.

Kenny MacAskill: There is excellent collaboration on the ground between services, in north east Scotland and elsewhere, which is already saving lives, reducing the number and severity of injuries, and providing more effective community safety. This includes co-location of fire and rescue services with the Scottish Ambulance Service in a number of rural areas. The government has no plans to integrate fire and rescue and ambulance services, but we would like to encourage all concerned to continue to think creatively about opportunities for joint working.

Ambulance Service

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to replace ambulances with one-man rapid response vehicles and, if so, how many ambulances will be replaced and when it anticipates any resulting effect on patient care.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service has confirmed that over the next 12 months they plan to update the mix of their emergency vehicle fleet to better respond to changing demand patterns and deliver improved levels of patient care. The result will be more emergency vehicles with more trained ambulance staff, responding to more patients faster. The changes will increase the number of emergency vehicles across Scotland by 30 and deliver a faster and more appropriate response to patients. Around 40 ambulances out of the total fleet will be replaced with more appropriate vehicles and the new vehicle mix will include "urgent tier" vehicles, which are specially designed to respond to requests from doctors and some hospital to hospital transfers, as well as rapid response vehicles.

  The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the ambulance service continues to provide safe, efficient and effective services to patients across Scotland, including those in remote and rural areas. It is also important that patients have confidence in the Scottish Ambulance Service’s ability to respond to emergencies. The most important aspect of ambulance care is the time it takes to get to the patient. Rapid response vehicles have been in use for five years and are proven to be the fastest response to 999 calls. They offer a fast intervention for patients who can then be transported to hospital by accident and emergency ambulance if required.

Climate Change

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the amount of additional climate-changing pollution, in tonnes of CO 2 , from increased air traffic as a result of the proposed expansions of Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

Stewart Stevenson: The Emissions Cost Assessment which the UK Government is carrying out this year will allow the social cost of UK aviation’s climate change emissions (not just CO 2  emissions) to be considered against the extent to which the sector covers that cost. It will provide a strategic assessment to inform future decision making.

Digital Technology

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in procuring broadband access for the village of Ewes, near Langholm.

Jim Mather: We have made great progress with our project which aims to bring affordable broadband to all eligible Scottish businesses and households who notified us of an access problem. We have received state aid approval for our open procurement, which has now entered its final stage of discussions with a preferred supplier. We thus expect to sign a contract by June. Specific solutions and the timetable for individual areas, such as Ewes, will be clarified post-contract award but delivery should be completed by the end of this year.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21 were (i) treated in and (ii) admitted to hospitals in each NHS board for drug misuse in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: Patients treated in hospitals could be seen in a variety of settings, including accident and emergency attendances, out-patients, day cases and in-patients.

  Centrally held information on accident and emergency attendances and out-patients does not include detailed information on diagnosis.

  Centrally held information on hospital discharges includes information on whether a patient was admitted to hospital with a drug-related diagnosis by NHS board area of treatment. It is not possible to distinguish between people who were treated in hospital and people who were admitted to hospital, but not treated.

  Table 1 shows the number of patients discharged from NHS general acute hospitals with a drug misuse diagnosis between 2002-03 and 2006-07, by NHS board of treatment, for people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21.

  Table 2 shows the number of patients discharged from NHS psychiatric units and mental illness hospitals with a drug misuse diagnosis between 2001-02 and 2005-06, by NHS board of treatment, for people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21.

  Table 1: Patients Discharged from General Acute Hospitals1 with a Diagnosis of Drug Misuse2,3 in Any Position by Age Group4: NHS Board of Treatment 2002-03 to 2006-07P

  

 Age in Years
 Ayrshire and Arran
 Borders
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Forth Valley
 Grampian
 Greater Glasgow and Clyde


 2002-03
 436
 53
 78
 196
 112
 321
 1,578


 Under 15 
 3
 z
 z
 -
 1
 2
 12


 15-18 
 37
 x
 10
 15
 8
 22
 50


 19-21 
 54
 12
 x
 30
 6
 39
 100


 Over 21 
 342
 31
 61
 151
 97
 258
 1416


 2003-04
 359
 40
 62
 181
 85
 297
 1,136


 Under 15 
 5
 z
 -
 2
 -
 1
 3


 15-18 
 26
 x
 z
 11
 6
 14
 37


 19-21 
 33
 z
 x
 11
 8
 25
 72


 Over 21 
 295
 27
 46
 157
 71
 257
 1024


 2004-05
 348
 36
 55
 198
 86
 268
 949


 Under 15 
 4
 -
 z
 2
 -
 -
 2


 15-18 
 30
 6
 z
 15
 x
 12
 62


 19-21 
 24
 6
 x
 23
 z
 34
 60


 Over 21 
 290
 24
 43
 158
 76
 222
 825


 2005-06
 264
 38
 59
 210
 59
 225
 775


 Under 15 
 2
 z
 -
 5
 -
 -
 4


 15-18 
 24
 x
 z
 19
 z
 11
 46


 19-21 
 23
 8
 x
 19
 x
 25
 58


 Over 21 
 215
 22
 49
 167
 55
 189
 667


 2006-07P
 326
 37
 68
 175
 57
 266
 845


 Under 15 
 7
 z
 -
 2
 -
 -
 5


 15-18 
 35
 z
 z
 16
 z
 7
 35


 19-21 
 32
 z
 x
 15
 z
 15
 72


 Over 21 
 252
 29
 55
 142
 52
 244
 733



  

 Age in Years
 Highland
 Lanarkshire
 Lothian
 Orkney
 Shetland
 Tayside
 Western Isles


 2002-03
 62
 179
 417
 4
 4
 140
 6


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 5
 -
 -
 2
 z


 15-18 
 z
 13
 34
 z
 z
 11
 z


 19-21 
 x
 22
 49
 z
 z
 18
 -


 Over 21 
 54
 144
 329
 z
 -
 109
 z


 2003-04
 57
 158
 481
 x
 4
 111
 7


 Under 15 
 -
 3
 2
 -
 -
 2
 z


 15-18 
 x
 11
 37
 -
 z
 9
 -


 19-21 
 z
 7
 56
 -
 z
 14
 -


 Over 21 
 43
 137
 386
 z
 z
 86
 x


 2004-05
 62
 139
 485
 x
 9
 92
 9


 Under 15 
 -
 5
 4
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 z
 9
 32
 z
 -
 14
 z


 19-21 
 x
 15
 48
 z
 z
 10
 z


 Over 21 
 53
 110
 401
 z
 x
 68
 z


 2005-06
 81
 130
 517
 x
 11
 107
 10


 Under 15 
 -
 5
 5
 -
 z
 -
 z


 15-18 
 14
 7
 39
 z
 -
 7
 z


 19-21 
 11
 9
 57
 -
 z
 15
 z


 Over 21 
 56
 109
 416
 -
 x
 85
 x


 2006-07P
 75
 143
 528
 x
 8
 141
 8


 Under 15 
 -
 1
 7
 -
 -
 1
 -


 15-18 
 13
 7
 38
 -
 -
 11
 z


 19-21 
 5
 11
 48
 z
 -
 20
 -


 Over 21 
 57
 124
 435
 z
 8
 109
 x



  PProvisional.

  Source = ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals and transfers.

  2. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Drug related conditions: F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F18, F19.

  3. Excludes misuse of alcohol or tobacco.

  4. Age on admission.

  - (zero).

  z Number not shown where number of patients discharged in a single year and Health Board is <100 and number of patients in a specific age group is <5. For island health boards all numbers <5 are suppressed.

  x Number not shown to prevent calculation of small numbers (<5) that have been suppressed.

  Table 2: Patients Discharged from Psychiatric Hospitals1,2 with a Diagnosis of Drug Misuse3,4 in any Position by Age Group5: NHS Board of Treatment 2001-02 to 2005-06P

  

 Age in Years
 Ayrshire and Arran
 Borders
 Dumfries and Galloway
 Fife
 Forth Valley
 Grampian
 Greater Glasgow and Clyde


 2001-02
 187
 27
 61
 68
 79
 50
 444


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 12
 z
 z
 z
 z
 z
 19


 19-21 
 21
 z
 x
 x
 z
 x
 35


 Over 21 
 154
 19
 44
 58
 73
 39
 390


 2002-03
 140
 38
 46
 59
 58
 66
 342


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 12
 -
 z
 z
 z
 6
 13


 19-21 
 13
 5
 x
 z
 x
 9
 33


 Over 21 
 115
 33
 36
 54
 49
 51
 296


 2003-04
 125
 25
 38
 63
 56
 46
 284


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 15-18 
 5
 z
 z
 z
 z
 5
 13


 19-21 
 8
 z
 z
 x
 z
 8
 22


 Over 21 
 112
 21
 35
 53
 53
 33
 248


 2004-05
 113
 36
 41
 73
 63
 46
 254


 Under 15 
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 5
 -
 z
 z
 x
 x
 6


 19-21 
 13
 z
 z
 x
 z
 z
 12


 Over 21 
 94
 x
 35
 61
 56
 37
 236


 2005-06P
 106
 24
 36
 77
 50
 38
 246


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1


 15-18 
 5
 z
 z
 -
 z
 z
 9


 19-21 
 9
 z
 z
 9
 z
 z
 25


 Over 21 
 92
 20
 33
 68
 44
 32
 211



  

 Age in Years
 Highland
 Lanarkshire
 Lothian
 Tayside
 Western Isles


 2001-02
 73
 124
 228
 95
 3


 Under 15 
 z
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 x
 2
 12
 z
 z


 19-21 
 9
 11
 29
 x
 -


 Over 21 
 57
 111
 187
 83
 x


 2002-03
 90
 130
 180
 83
 -


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 7
 7
 9
 z
 -


 19-21 
 6
 13
 18
 12
 -


 Over 21 
 77
 110
 153
 67
 -


 2003-04
 70
 124
 147
 70
 x


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 z
 6
 4
 8
 -


 19-21 
 x
 9
 16
 9
 -


 Over 21 
 58
 109
 127
 53
 z


 2004-05
 82
 121
 150
 74
 -


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 x
 7
 7
 z
 -


 19-21 
 z
 12
 8
 x
 -


 Over 21 
 72
 102
 135
 55
 -


 2005-06P
 75
 58
 118
 80
 x


 Under 15 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 15-18 
 8
 z
 13
 z
 -


 19-21 
 6
 z
 8
 x
 -


 Over 21 
 61
 50
 97
 70
 z



  PProvisional.

  Source = ISD Scotland (SMR04).

  Notes:

  1. Excludes acute and maternity hospitals.

  2. There were no SMR04 submissions from either Orkney or Shetland Health Boards of Treatment between 2001-02 and 2005-06.

  3. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10).

  4. Drug related conditions: F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F18, F19.

  5. Excludes misuse of alcohol or tobacco.

  6. Age on admission.

  - (zero).

  z Number not shown where number of patients discharged in a single year and Health Board is <100 and number of patients in a specific age group is <5. For island health boards all numbers <5 are suppressed.

  x Number not shown to prevent calculation of small numbers (<5) that have been suppressed.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that a new chief executive of Scottish Development International will be appointed and what role ministers will have in this appointment.

Jim Mather: The process for appointing a new chief executive of Scottish Development International (SDI) is continuing. Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise officials are in close and active discussion about next steps.

  Ministers have defined their expectations of the role SDI and its new chief executive should play, but the appointment process is a matter for Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise senior management, under the auspices of the Civil Service Commission.

  Lena Wilson, the chief operating officer of Scottish Enterprise, is the acting chief executive of SDI. Under the current interim leadership team, SDI continues to deliver excellent results.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the arrangements for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Jim Mather: There are no plans to alter Scottish Development International’s (SDI) joint venture status so SDI’s working relationship with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remains unchanged.

  SDI, VisitScotland and EventScotland already collaborate on areas of joint interest. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future, as the international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland’s interests overseas.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase Scottish Development International’s overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries.

Jim Mather: There are no current plans to increase Scottish Development International’s (SDI) overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries. SDI always seeks to align its staff resources with the extent of opportunity, and it regularly reviews this resource to ensure effective market coverage.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much income Scottish Development International received from (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Executive and (c) any other sources in each of the last three years and what it will receive from these sources over each of the next three years.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is the source of funding for Scottish Development International (SDI) irrespective of whether the funds flow through the Scottish Enterprise budget or the Government’s own budgets. However, the division between these two funding channels in relation to the income SDI received in each of the last three years and is receiving in the current financial year is shown in the following tables. The indicative allocation SDI has been given by Scottish Enterprise for 2009-10 and 2010-2011 is the same as for 2008-09.

  

 Operating Costs
2005-06 (£000)
2006-07 (£000)
2007-08 (£000)
2008-09 (£000)


 Field Offices *
 5,437
 5,724
 6,853
 6,910


 Scottish Operations +^>#
 5,701
 3,586
 5,668
 9,576


 International Marketing >
 2,322
 4,846
 5,518
 5,100


 Enterprise Salaries <
 4,655
 4,700
 4,876
 5,865


 Executive/Government Salaries
 1,672
 1,683
 1,682
 1,680


 Totals
 18,115
 18,856
 22,915
 27,451



  

 Funding Sources
2005-06 (£000)
2006-07 (£000)
2007-08 (£000)
2008-09 (£000)


 Scottish Enterprise
 15,723 
 16,453 
 20,313 
 24,251 


 Scottish Executive/Government +#
 2,392 
 2,403 
 2,602 
 3,200 


 Totals
 18,115 
 18,856 
 22,915 
 27,451 



  Notes:

  - Includes Scotland Europa.

  + - Includes Executive/Government contribution to Business Gateway International salaries of £720,000 per annum.

  ^ - Includes £3 million for regional activity from 2008-09.

  > - In 2006-07, marketing spend moved from Scottish operations to international marketing.

  < - Includes additional staff previously funded from LEC budgets, but transferred to SDI from 2008-09.

  # - Includes £1 million (£200,000 in 2007-08 and £800,000 in 2008-09) from Government to support the higher education pilot.

Fly-Tipping

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle the issue of fly-tipping.

Michael Russell: We fund the Scottish fly-tipping forum through the independent environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful. The forum includes all of the key stakeholders who are affected by fly-tipping including police, councils, Scottish Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and farmers.

  Fly-tipping is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Anyone caught fly-tipping could face a penalty of up to £40,000, six months in prison, or both if the case goes to court. On indictment a fly-tipper can face an even more severe penalty of an unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment – five years if its hazardous waste – and the police also have the power to issue £50 fixed penalty fines.

Forestry Commission

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce the annual running costs of Forestry Commission Scotland.

Michael Russell: Spending by Forestry Commission Scotland is approved by the Parliament annually through the Budget Bill. The bill sets out their expenditure limits, but we also expect all of our directorates and their agencies to contribute to our efficiency targets.

  As part of this, Forestry Commission Scotland have undertaken an analysis of every woodland on the forest estate with a view to selling those areas delivering least against Scottish Government objectives and reinvesting the income on buying land and planting with trees that better meet Scotland's needs. In addition, their agency, Forest Enterprise Scotland, who manage the estate, has been set a challenging budget which sees their spending remain flat for the next three years. This can only be achieved by producing real savings on their activities, but with no reduction of service to their customers.

Fuel Costs

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has held with rural stakeholders on the impact of the rising cost of fuel on the viability of rural businesses.

Michael Russell: The Cabinet Secretary and I regularly meet with a wide variety of stakeholders, including rural businesses, throughout Scotland. Increasingly, the cost of fuel is being raised as an issue. It is clearly a matter for concern for rural communities, and one that we take extremely seriously. We are having specific discussions with the leadership of the fishing industry, recognising the particular difficulties faced by that sector.

  However, as much I may regret it, it is the UK Government which has fiscal responsibility in the matter of fuel taxation. My ministerial colleagues continue to press the matter with the Chancellor.

HM Revenue and Customs

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11472 by John Swinney on 30 April 2008, what representations will be made to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in order to ensure that its Wick office remains open.

John Swinney: As noted in the answer to question S3W-11472, under current constitutional arrangements the organisation of HMRC services in Scotland is a matter for that body. We believe HMRC must ensure an adequate level of convenient face to face service for all Scottish taxpayers including those in the Wick area. This means we expect to see that level of service maintained following the implementation of changes resulting from the reviews HMRC currently has on-going.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given that proposals anent GP opening hours will include other members of practice teams, hospital technicians will be available during evenings and weekends to process blood tests carried out during GPs’ clinics.

Shona Robison: Most laboratory tests can safely be stored overnight and processed routinely the next day. All boards have in place out of hours emergency laboratory on call services to deal with any urgent tests required on the basis of clinical need. Whether or not the sample is taken at an appointment during extended hours is irrelevant. The urgency of the test will continue to be determined by clinical need whether that is carried out during daytime or extended hours.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve access to alternative therapies such as homeopathy and facilitate patient choice.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative medicine, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions and leaves it open to NHS boards to provide these therapies based on their assessment of needs in their areas. The treatment of individual patients is a matter of professional judgement.

  Guidance was issued to NHS boards in August 2005 to remind them that this option is open to them. This letter, NHS Circular HDL (2005) 37, is available electronically at http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for sale will be built in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Maxwell: Announcement of the 2008-09 affordable housing investment programme will be made shortly. Plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 will be announced nearer the time.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people the Mortgage to Rent scheme had assisted in each year since 2003.

Stewart Maxwell: The Mortgage to Rent scheme is demand led. The number of households that the scheme assisted in each financial year since 2003 is as follows:

  

 Financial Year
 Number of Households


 2003-04
 46


 2004-05
 91


 2005-06
 147


 2006-07
 173


 2007-08
 161


 Total
 618

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value of grant towards the purchase of houses under the Mortgage to Rent scheme has been in each year since 2003.

Stewart Maxwell: The Mortgage to Rent scheme is demand led. The average value of grant towards the purchase of houses under the scheme in each financial year since 2003 is as follows:

  

 Financial Year
 Average Value of Grant (£)


 2003-04
 26,042.60


 2004-05
 33,244.91


 2005-06
 43,257.64


 2006-07
 48,596.66


 2007-08
 57,804.53

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11440 by Stewart Maxwell on 15 April 2008, how its statement that "allocation of housing association grant only is not separately recorded" can be reconciled with the answer to question S3W-3354 by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007 that "records of Housing Association Grant paid to registered social landlords, broken down by local authority area, are available back to 1996-97".

Stewart Maxwell: The response to S3W-11440 correctly stated that allocation of housing association grant by local authority area is not separately recorded. The grant allocation at the beginning of each financial year is a single figure which includes provision for all relevant elements of the affordable housing investment programme. In addition to housing association grant, this includes grant mechanisms such as rural home ownership grant, rural empty property grants, grants for the physical and social environment and special needs capital grants.

  However, records are kept on actual spend of Housing Association Grant and the response to S3W-3354 provided this. These figures were provided alongside an indication of Communities Scotland approved Development Programme for 2007-08. The approved development programme figures included proposed spend on housing association grant, grants for the physical and social environment, Glasgow Housing Association grants and community ownership programme grants. These are classed as "approved development programme" allocations but are different grant mechanisms to housing association grant.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to update the national performance standards for housing to include a standard on the participation of local authorities and registered social landlords in Wider Role and social enterprise activities.

Stewart Maxwell: National Performance Standards for social landlords, jointly agreed by the regulator, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations currently contain a guiding standard on sustainability for all social landlords as well as wider role activity standards that apply only to Registered Social Landlords. These were updated in November 2006 following consultation with the sector. We do not intend to carry out a further review or to amend the standard.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to ensure that the delivery of the Social Enterprise Strategy for Scotland will fully encompass the role of registered social landlords.

Jim Mather: Better Business: A strategy and action plan for social enterprise in Scotland was a one year action plan (April 2007 to March 2008) and included actions on the role of registered social landlords.

  The forthcoming Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan 2008-11 will build on the success of that previous plan and will recognise the role of registered social landlords in developing and supporting social enterprise. The action plan will include a commitment to work with other funders, including the Government’s Wider Role Fund for registered social landlords.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide guidance to local authorities and community planning partnerships on the use of community regeneration funding to support registered social landlords in social enterprise activities.

Stewart Maxwell: Strategic guidance on the new Fairer Scotland Fund, which has replaced a number of previous community regeneration programmes and their individual monitoring regimes, was provided to Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in February. Local funding decisions are a matter for individual CPPs.

Justice

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that fingerprint witness Allan Bayle should be called to give evidence before the McKie inquiry and if so whether his previous record in giving evidence in other cases should be made available.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will give every assistance to the inquiry, but we will not be advising on which witnesses to call, nor on what questions to ask. This is an independent inquiry, the conduct of which is properly a matter for its chairman. In Lord Justice Campbell, we are fortunate to have a chairman of the highest calibre, an experienced and respected judge. We are content to let him get on with the job. I suggest that others do likewise.

Local Government Finance

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total settlement was given to local authorities in each of the last 10 years and, of those, what percentage were ring-fenced for specific spending streams, broken down by specific ring-fenced item.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total settlement was given to each local authority in each of the last 10 years and, of those, what percentage were ring-fenced for specific spending streams, broken down by specific ring-fenced item.

John Swinney: The information requested is published in Local Government Finance Circulars copies of which can be accessed from the Scottish Government’s website using the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11203.

NHS Finance

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposal that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will provide £270 million towards the building of the New Southern General Hospital will have an impact on other aspects of the overall budget of the NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Of the £270 million capital being provided by the NHS board, £135 million is being provided from within the capital allocations available to the NHS board with the remaining £135 million being provided by applying anticipated capital receipts. The NHS board has developed a ten year financial strategy which in both capital and revenue terms is affordable and sustainable.

Police

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for determining what is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

Kenny MacAskill: Under the provisions of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, the operational deployment of individual officers is subject to the direction of the chief constable.

  However, there are circumstances when chief constables are legitimately influenced in their deployment by parties external to the police service. These circumstances arise when officers are deployed in more general terms under the force’s operational priorities. The tripartite system of governance for police forces dictates that these priorities are arrived at following consultation between the chief constable, the relevant police board and Scottish ministers.

Pre-School Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to meet its manifesto commitment of ensuring that every nursery child has access to a qualified nursery teacher, in light of recently published statistics showing a reduction in the number of qualified nursery teachers.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government expects that local authorities will deliver the commitment to ensure access to a teacher for every pre-school age child using flexible models of teacher deployment, based on local needs and circumstances.

Pre-School Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recently published statistics showing a reduction in the number of qualified nursery teachers, what plans it has to address this shortfall and to ensure that every local authority provides pre-school children with access to a qualified nursery teacher.

Adam Ingram: Progress towards delivering access to a teacher for every pre-school child is one of the commitments contained in the concordat signed with COSLA in November 2007. The Scottish Government expects that local authorities will deploy teachers on the basis of local needs and circumstances.

Pre-School Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects every nursery class in every nursery school to have a qualified nursery teacher and what action it intends to take to achieve this objective.

Adam Ingram: The commitment to deliver access to a teacher for every pre-school age child is contained within the concordat with COSLA, which covers the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. It is the first commitment which has been made since devolution to ensure pre-school children have access to the benefits teachers bring. COSLA will report annually on progress made by local authorities across Scotland towards delivery of this commitment.

Pre-School Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of local authority nursery classes benefit from a dedicated qualified nursery teacher and how it plans to improve this figure.

Adam Ingram: Figures from the pre-school teacher census that took place in September 2007 indicate that 87% of local authority pre-schools had at least one General Teaching Council for Scotland registered teacher. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that every pre-school child in Scotland has access to a teacher and expects that local authorities will deliver this commitment on the basis of local needs and circumstances.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether FirstGroup plc’s share price was taken into consideration during the negotiations on the extension of the ScotRail franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: The extension of the ScotRail franchise was share price sensitive, requiring an announcement by officers of the company to the Stock Exchange. This necessary process was a consideration during the negotiations.

  The share price itself was not a consideration in any decision.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held with other train operators, ferry operators and bus operators, prior to the decision to extend the ScotRail franchise, regarding connection times with different passenger services, including dates and agendas, and how such discussions fed into revisions agreed to the franchise.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the franchise agreement, since first awarded in 2004, First ScotRail has had an on-going obligation to cooperate with other public transport operators on all aspects of the integration of services including timetabling, information, ticketing and facilities. The extension of the franchise does not change these obligations.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive at what revenue level the (a) 50% and (b) 80% clawback of excess revenue from passenger fares to the Scottish Government would have kicked in under the terms of the franchise prior to the extension and at what revenue level any clawback will now apply.

Stewart Stevenson: In the franchise agreement as originally let, the 50% revenue share level was applied to marginal revenue above 102% of target, the 80% share at 106% of target. These limits have been reset at 110% and 114% respectively.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how any outcomes from the consultation on the National Planning Framework can be incorporated into the ScotRail franchise and where responsibility rests for ensuring that this is done.

Stewart Stevenson: The operation of the variation mechanism in the ScotRail franchise has been improved through the agreement of the extension. This will allow outcomes from the framework to be incorporated into the franchise under the lead of Transport Scotland.

Recycling

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has for improving recycling in Glasgow.

Michael Russell: Single outcome agreements, which are presently being developed, will cover all local government services in each council area, including waste management.

Scottish Government Websites

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to monitor the range, quality, and content of websites operated by and on behalf of the Scottish Government and its agencies.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s main corporate website, www.scotland.gov.uk , is operated within the New Media and Marketing Department and is subject to regular evaluation for style and content, an annual independent audit, and periodic usability testing.

  It aims to be an exemplar public sector site in terms of scope, display and accessibility of information. It has been designed to comply with the international web accessibility standards issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as part of their Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

  New web-based material is added regularly and it is the web team’s policy to encourage all areas of the Scottish Government to develop online content within the corporate website where appropriate.

  Agencies are responsible for their own web presence and online marketing but are expected to follow similar guidelines on content and accessibility.

Security Industry

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many security firms have had licences refused by the Security Industry Authority since its inception.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many security firms have had licences refused by the Security Industry Authority as a result of the criminal connections of the owners of the firms.

Kenny MacAskill: Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 individuals not companies are subject to licensing by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The SIA does, however maintain an approved contractor scheme. Information about the operation of that scheme can be obtained from the SIA.

Security Industry

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Security Industry Authority intends to review its procedures in order to ensure that they are sufficiently robust to deal with security firms whose owners have alleged criminal connections.

Kenny MacAskill: It is a matter for the Security Industry Authority to ensure that they have robust operating procedures in place to ensure they meet their statutory obligations to regulate the private security industry.

Wildlife

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers there will be resources adequate to the task to monitor licensed snaring.

Michael Russell: The new regulations for snaring will be enforced, as snaring is at present, by the police. The level of resources dedicated to policing this and other wildlife crime is a matter for chief constables. I would not expect to see each and every snare checked by a police officer. But I would expect to see a high degree of compliance with the new regulations from professional land managers.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person commits an offence if he sets a snare that captures an animal listed in Schedule 2 to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007, for example a wildcat or common otter.

Michael Russell: It is an offence recklessly or intentionally to kill or capture an animal listed on Schedule 2 to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994. Intentional killing or capture of a animal listed on Schedule 2 may be carried out under licence.

Wildlife

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person commits an offence if he sets a snare that captures an animal listed in Schedule 3 to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007, for example a mountain hare, pine marten or polecat.

Michael Russell: In the view of the Scottish Government it is an offence to use a snare to kill or capture an animal listed in Schedule 3 to the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, unless this is carried out under licence.

Wildlife

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of research recently commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to determine the extent of use and humaneness of snares in England and Wales and whether it will ensure that such research is replicated for Scotland.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned or will commission any independent research into the welfare impacts of snaring, as recommended in 2005 in the Report of the Independent Working Group on Snares.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12074 on 1 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Young Offenders

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to setting up in Scotland training and employment schemes for young offenders, prepared by the Smart Company and led by National Grid Transco, which operate in prisons in England.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  HM Young Offender Institution Polmont is at an advanced stage of discussion with National Grid and Fountains, one of four major companies working with National Grid in Scotland. They are in the final stages of preparing to pilot a scheme which will enable suitable young offenders to receive training with Fountains on a day release basis whilst in custody. On completion of training, and subject to a satisfactory probation period, the young offenders will be guaranteed employment. If the pilot scheme is successful we would hope to expand it to provide further opportunities for offenders to benefit from this very positive route into training and employment.